Nocturnal Animals Tasting Menu

Last week I visited Nocturnal Animal on Bennetts Hill – right in the city centre – for a spot of fine dining. They have two options for the tasting menu – six courses for £45 or eight courses for £65.

The interior is playful with hints of 80’s pop culture. Being led from the bar to the restaurant was like following the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland or being shown into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory (you know in the beginning when the door gets smaller and smaller!) It was really strange but in a good way. One hallway is one big optical illusion which I’m sure is where you’d want to take a nice outfit pic.

The menu includes Japanese and Chinese dishes like Katsu or bao buns but a lot more refined. Everything was perfectly cooked and even with the eight courses you don’t feel disgustingly full … you kind of want more … and we ended the meal with macaron petit fours! The highlight for me was the chicken liver parfait to start, something I would never go for on a menu but it ended up being my favourite.

I don’t want to say too much, but selected a few pictures just to tease you. It’s one of those places you have to experience for yourself.